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Minister Fletcher invests in safety at Prince Albert Airport

July 12, 2011, Prince Albert, Sask. — The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport), announced today that the Government of Canada is investing more than $5.9 million in improvements to the Prince Albert Airport.


July 12, 2011  By Melissa Damota

July 12, 2011, Prince Albert, Sask. — The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport), announced today that the Government of Canada is investing more than $5.9 million in improvements to the Prince Albert Airport. Under the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), the money will be used to rehabilitate the pavement on Runway 08-26.

"Our government is committed to the safety and security of all Canadians, and continues to invest in airport safety by assisting regional and local airports with safety-related capital projects," said Minister Fletcher. "We recognize that efficient and safe airports are vital to the local economies of smaller communities. Strengthening the Prince Albert Airport will create jobs directly and indirectly in this community."

This year, the Government of Canada is investing more than $20.9 million for 27 projects at 23 airports. Improvements include replacing snowblowers and runway sweepers; purchasing runway de-icing and fire-fighting equipment; and rehabilitating runway pavements.

"Canada's regional airports play an important role in our local, national and international economies, as is the case here in Prince Albert," said Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for Prince Albert. "This year's ACAP funding is vital to the safety of all those who use this airport, especially the businesses in Northern Saskatchewan that have come to rely heavily on it."

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"Thank you for making the Prince Albert Airport runway rehabilitation one of the federal government's first-priority projects. Over the past four years our airport has seen a substantial increase in the number of flights, in part because of the significant growth in Northern Saskatchewan's mining industry," said Jim Scarrow, mayor of Prince Albert. "Prince Albert is Saskatchewan's ‘gateway to the North' and our airport is vital for travel to the northern communities. We are extremely pleased to have received more than $5.9 million dollars in federal funding for runway pavement rehabilitation at the Prince Albert Airport."

To date, through ACAP, the Government of Canada has invested a total of $556 million for 678 projects at 171 airports, including today's announcement. Over 99 per cent of these projects were airside safety-related projects such as runways, taxiways and visual aids, as well as heavy airside mobile equipment such as fire trucks and snowplows.

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